Cervical applicator



Feb. 7, 1939.- J. 5. HEINTZ ET AL CERVICAL APPLICATOR Filed Marbh 1, 1957 Mia/ml QQ-NTQRS THEIR ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERVICAL APPLICATOR Joseph S. Heintz and Michael S. Cook, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 1, 1937, Serial No. 128,506

4 Claims.

Our invention relates to the application of medicaments to the cervix, and includes among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved cervical applicator.

ates a negative pressure which co-operates with the supporting action on the cervix to theend that the medicament may be effectively applied thereto.

An object of our invention is to provide an applicator in which the cervix is supported in an effective manner and in which means is incorporated for withdrawing air from the cervix.

A further object is to provide an applicator in which the medicament is delivered to the cervix in response to atmospheric pressure, and in which negative pressure in the cervix co-operates with the atmospheric pressure to deliver the medicament in an eifective manner. Another object is to provide an applicator in which novel means is employed for locating the cervix within the co-operating part of the applicator and in which the atmospheric pressure is rendered operable-for delivery purposes by merely opening a valve.

Another object is to provide an applicator having a suction cup so constructed and arranged as to accurately locate and efiectively support the cervix in the stationary manner through the aid of negative pressure and in which means is included for effectively breaking any suctional relation between the cup and the cervix, as when removing the applicator.

- A further object is to provide an app'licator de void of complicated co-operating mechanical parts and in which novel means is employed for loading the-applicator with a medicament.

In the accompanying'drawing: Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an applicator embodying our invention; a

Fig. 2 is a sectional .view along the line 2-2' of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line 1-4 of Fi .2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line-H V of Fig. 1; and

v Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view showing the manner in which the applicator may be load-- ed with medicament. I

In the embodiment selected to illustrate our invention we make use of a barrel III to one end -of which we connect a heavy-suction bulb I2 having a bead l3 for increasing its suction action. A rubber suction cup ll is attached to the opposite end of the barrel. Fig. 2 illustrates the barrel III as being provided with a corrugated reach l6 over which the neck l8 of the bulb l2 5 is stretched. The end of the neck [8 has abutting relation with the flange carried by the barrel iii. A tube 22 is formed integrally with the suction cup I! and is frictionally retained on the reduced reach 24 at the opposite'end of 10 comprises a plate 39 and a sealing gasket 40.

Two flanges 42 are formed on the plate 39, which flanges lie in overlapping relation .with lips M attachedto the cup 36. The overlapping'flanges and. lips are provided with aligned openings for 25 the reception of a pin 46 which carries a coil spring 48 having its ends abutting the cup 36 and the cap 38 for urging the same into closing relation with the cup.

-Adjacent the tube 26 and within the barrel in .we mount a small tube 50 which places the bulb [2 in communication with the cup II. In constructing the device, the tubes 26 and 50 may be arranged in juxtaposed relation and imbedded in the barrel III by molding the latter about the tubes from any suitable material.

The cup ll terminates in a bead 52. and is provided with 'three small air vents 54 immediately below the bead. A small bead 56 is also formed within the bottom" of the suction cup. 40

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate the normal position of the cup ll for cervix holding purposes while the dotted line illustration of the cup in Fig. 2 illustrates the folded back position of the cup for insertion purposes. After insertion, a slight reverse pull on the applicator brings the cup back to its normal position. The'bead 52 lends support to the cup. ll so as to prevent distortion thereof when it is being applied to the. cervix. The bead also holds the cup in its folded back position, as illustrated in dotted lines. In operation, the tube 26. is filled with medicament and the cup ll folded back to its dotted line position and anointed with medicament to facilitate insertion. The device is then inserted, I6

suction effective on the medicament and atmospheric pressure cause the V medicament to be quickly delivered through the constricted opening 30 into the cervix and thereabout. With the suction broken, the applicator is easily withdrawn.

Our applicator is automatic in operation. The suction, feature not only provides effective support and retention of the cervix within the cup but also co-operates with atmospheric pressure for automatically delivering the medicament thereto and about the cervix. Delivery of the medicament is consummated by merely opening the cap 38. Because of thorough evacuation of air from the'cervix, our applicator delivers the medicament into the cervix in an effective manner. a

. Our cup l4 embodies novel means for determining proper positioning of the cervix. The

openings 54 establish air bleeds which prevent the clip from gripping the vaginal wall or tissue beyond the cervix so that the suction action may be utilized for determining placement of the cervix within the cup. In other words, the suction isnot effective unless the cervix is positioned within the cup, at which time the openings 54 are sealed.

In placing the openings 54 underneath the bead 52 the bead will hold the tissue or the vaginal wall out of sealing relation with the openings, thereby eliminating any counter-suction which might be efiective when withdrawing the applicator. Ordinarily, the suction is eflectively broken when the cap is opened, but theopenings 54 provide effective means for preventing any back suction at the time of withdrawal. In-eifectively preventing any counter-suction when the applicator is withdrawn the medicament will re- 1 main where placed and will not be withdrawn with the applicator, with the suction cup l4 folded back to its dotted line position, the head 56 provides a gentle curvature as a leading edge which projects beyond the end of the'barrel Ill, thus affording protection against injury from the barrel. Fig. 5 illustrates the manner in which the tube 26 may be loaded. We have provided the cup 38 with internal threads 58 for the reception of the threaded neck 60 carried by a collapsible tube 62 containing medicament. The cap 38 may be moved backsufilciently far about its pivotal axis as to provide accommodation for :the tube 82.

Without further elaboration,'the foregoing will so fully explain our invention that others may,

by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions. of service. We claim:

1. A cervical applicator comprising a barrel having a cervix receiving suction cup attached to one end thereof, a compressible bulb attached to the other end of the barrel, the latter having communication with the suction cup and the comcervix being such that atmospheric pressure delivers the medicament to the cervix when the medicament containing conduit is opened to the atmosphere.

2. A cervical applicator comprising a barrel having a cervix receiving suction cup attached to one end thereof, a compressible bulb attached to theother end of the barrel, the latter having communication with the suction cup and the compressible bulb, a medicament containing passageway extending through the barrel andhaving separate communication with the suction cup and the atmosphere only, and means for closing and opening said last-named passageway at a position remote from the suction cup, said suction cup having an outwardly projecting bead, the ball of the cup being provided with an air bleed adjacent said bead, said air bleed being'sealed by the cer- .vix when positioned inside the suction cup.

3. A cervical applicator comprising a barrel having a cervix receiving suction cup attached to one end thereof, a compressible bulb attached to the other end of the barrel, the latter having communication with the suction cup and the compressible bulb, a medicament containing passage- .way extending through the barrel and having separate communication with the suction cup and the'atmosphere only, means for closing and opening said last-named passageway at a position remote from the suction cup, the negative pressure relation between the suction cup and the cervix being'such that atmospheric pressure delivers the medicament to the cervix when the said lastnamed passageway is opened to the atmosphere, said suction cup comprising resilient material and being foldable back upon itself, and an annular head of gentle curvature inside the bottom of the cup and projecting beyond the end of the barrel.

4. A cervical applicator comprising arigid barrel having a cervix receiving suction cup attached to one end thereof, said-suction cup comprising flexible material, air evacuating means attached to the other end of the barrel, said barrel having communication withv the air evacuating means and the suction cup through its bottom, a medicament containing conduit extending through the barrel and said air evacuating means, one end of said medicament containing conduit having communication with the suction cup through its bot-- tom, the other end of the medicament containing conduit having sealed relation withthe air evacuating means and communicating with the at- 'mosphere, and means for opening and closing the 'medicament containing conduit at a position exteriorly of the air evacuating means, the negative pressure relation between the cervix and the suction cup being such that atmospheric pressure delivers the medicament to the cervix when the medicament containing conduit is opened to the atmosphere. 

